Touch switch

Abstract

A touch switch including: a conductive member for which voltage is applied from a plurality of locations for detecting presence or absence of a touch and a touch position on the conductive member of a conductor to be detected based on an electrical conduction status of the conductive member; and a detection-level changing mechanism for changing a detection level of the electrical conduction status of the conductive member due to the touch of the conductor on the conductive member. The presence or absence of the touch and the touch position on the conductive member of the conductor is detected if the detection level meets a predetermined condition.

1 . A touch switch comprising:
 a conductive member for which voltage is applied from a plurality of locations for detecting presence or absence of a touch and a touch position on the conductive member of a conductor to be detected based on an electrical conduction status of the conductive member; and   a detection-level changing mechanism for changing a detection level of the electrical conduction status of the conductive member due to the touch of the conductor on the conductive member,   wherein the presence or absence of the touch and the touch position on the conductive member of the conductor is detected if the detection level meets a predetermined condition.   
     
     
         2 . The touch switch according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection-level changing mechanism comprises a conductive touch confirmation member to which a grounding side electrode of a power supply for applying voltage to the conductive member is connected, and the detection level meets the predetermined condition under a state of electrical conduction of the conductive member in relation to the touch confirmation member. 
     
     
         3 . The touch switch according to  claim 1 , wherein the conductive member and the touch confirmation member are provided on both surfaces of an insulation layer having electrical insulating properties, respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The touch switch according to  claim 3 , wherein the insulation layer is constituted by a handle portion projecting from a wall part and extending facing opposite the wall part, and one of the conductive member and the touch confirmation member is provided on one surface of the handle portion that faces opposite the wall part, while another of the conductive member and the touch confirmation member is provided on another surface of the handle portion that is remote from the wall part. 
     
     
         5 . The touch switch according to  claim 4 , wherein the handle portion is an automobile handle portion including at least one of a door armrest, an inside door handle and an assist grip. 
     
     
         6 . The touch switch according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the conductive member and the touch confirmation member is formed of a conductive resin. 
     
     
         7 . The touch switch according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the conductive member and the touch confirmation member is formed of a conductive coating material. 
     
     
         8 . The touch switch according to  claim 1 , wherein the conductive member includes an operating surface, the detection-level changing mechanism comprises a divider projection member formed of an insulating material and provided on a part of the operating surface in order to divide the operating surface, and the detection level meets the predetermined condition if the conductor touches on the operating surface without intervening the divider projection member. 
     
     
         9 . The touch switch according to  claim 1 , wherein an AC voltage is applied to the conductive member, and a dielectric layer is provided on a surface of the conductive member for detecting the presence or absence of the touch and the touch position on the conductive member of the conductor via the dielectric layer. 
     
     
         10 . The touch switch according to  claim 1 , wherein a DC voltage is applied to the conductive member for detecting the presence or absence of a direct touch and the touch position on the conductive member of the conductor. 
     
     
         11 . The touch switch according to  claim 1 , wherein a displacement volume and a displacement direction of the touch position on the conductive member of the conductor is identified by continuously detecting the touch position.